scooter accident

Have You Been Injured in a Scooter Accident?

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Over the past year, there’s been a scooter innovation invasion across the United States. These dock-less, electric scooters are made to solve our short distance commuter problems.

It’s been referred to as “Scootergeddon”, and shows no signs of slowing down. The idea that began in San Francisco has now been rolled out to almost 100 cities around the country. What started as a fun way of reducing carbon emissions, scooter accidents now could be the cause of upwards of 1000 injuries per month.

Why Scooters?

It’s a cheap and cheerful way of getting around cities, but is it worth the risk? Los Angeles has already seen its first class action lawsuit against scooter rental companies. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time until Colorado will also see an uprising in scooter-related personal injury lawsuits.

Scooter accident statistics are on the up in Denver. Swedish Medical Center estimates that they’re seeing at least 20 injuries per week that are a result of e-scooter accidents. But what happens if you have a scooter accident? Is there anything you can do about it?

Medical bills don’t pay themselves, and scooter companies certainly don’t either.

What Are Some of the Causes of Scooter Accidents?

The biggest cause of scooter accidents is their riders not wearing helmets. This is a huge problem in the case of rental scooters as helmets aren’t provided. Furthermore, nobody is walking around Denver on their way to work with a helmet, just in case.

The fact that these scooters cost $1 to unlock and then 15 cents-per-minute to ride shows that they were designed for convenience. After all, there doesn’t appear to be any whimsy about strapping on a helmet to save yourself from any sort of scooter injury.

At the moment, Denver classes e-scooters as “toy vehicles”, meaning they can’t be ridden on the road. Although this can help to avoid traffic-related incidents, there are also plenty of accidents that can occur on the sidewalk.

Curbs, signs, uneven pavement, pedestrians, and automobiles can all cause accidents, and while the majority of those injured report malfunctioning scooters as the cause, riders still may be to blame. For example, incidents wherein riders have been intoxicated or using their phones have already been reported.

What to do if You’ve Been Injured on a Scooter

Up to 40% of e-scooter injuries are head and neck related. That said, these “toy vehicles” have also caused deaths. Other injuries such as abrasions, fractures, and breaks also happen on the regular.

Because some incidents happen as a result of riders not knowing where to ride or faulty equipment, the accident might not be your fault. If it isn’t, you also might not know what to do if you’re unfortunate enough to get into an accident – whether it lands you in the hospital or not.

Here’s what you should do:

  • Make sure nobody else was injured.
  • If you’re not seriously injured and another person was involved, we recommend calling the police to file an incident report. Collect information such as license plate numbers, identification of contacts and insurance information.
  • On the other hand, if no other people were involved, jot down some notes about what you think might have caused the accident. Faulty vehicle? Denver sidewalks? Surroundings? Take pictures.
  • Get yourself to the hospital. Even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured, having medical proof on the back of an accident will come in handy in the claims process.
  • Seek legal advice: Rental scooters are so new that there aren’t even solid statistics on accident rates yet. Therefore, you might have difficulty finding out what to do next. A personal injury lawyer will be able to help you figure out the best plan of action.

Scootergeddon’s forecast is set to increase. However, let’s make sure that scooter injuries in Denver don’t follow suit. If  you have been injured in a scooter accident, don’t wait contact Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden Law Firm to help you get the legal support you need.

types of property damage

What Are the Different Types of Property Damage?

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Types of Property Damage

Property damage in short covers damage to physical property (examples: home, vehicles, and personal property). But what exactly do you do when your property has been damaged?

One of the biggest causes of property damage in Colorado has to do with the weather. Anything you might’ve heard about Colorado’s 300 sunny days per year is hyperbole. Colorado is prone to hail storms which cause far more bad than good.

Over the last few years, we’ve also seen a drastic increase in wildfires. 2018’s wildfire season was one of the worst on record, with more than 450 homes being damaged or destroyed. It led to a lot of apartment fire damage in Denver, Aurora, and beyond. Understandably, a lot of residents weren’t sure what to do.

To prepare yourself for the possibility of property damage, you first need to uderstand what it means. On top of that, you also need to know the different types. All of which will be covered in this article.

Property damage

The definition of property damage can be segmented into three types:

  • Physical damage to tangible property
  • Loss of use of injured tangible property
  • Loss of use of uninjured tangible property

Tangible property is as it sounds: it covers anything that is tangible. For instance, physical items and belongings that can be touched or felt.

Physical Damage

This covers belongings and property that has been physically damaged. It’s also the type of damage we see the most.

In short, physical damage can be seen by the naked eye. Good examples include hail smashing through your car’s windshield or a gas leak leading to a fire that guts out your kitchen.

Loss of use

Essentially, ‘loss of use’ is legalese for ‘it doesn’t work anymore.’ Simple as it sounds, property damage law then splits it into two categories.

  • Injured = items that don’t work as a result of the accident
  • Uninjured = items that stop working but aren’t physically damaged

Examples of both include:

  • Injured: An electrical fire damaged the inside of an apartment causing the tenant to have to move elsewhere
  • Uninjured: A fire causes the ceiling in an apartment complex to open spilling asbestos all over your items. While the fire may not have physically caused damage to the item the asbestos that touched any items such as blankets and other tangible soft items will be damaged.

Types of property damage

Three of the most common types of property damage in Denver are theft, weather, and fire.

That said, with the increase in wildfires has pushed fire damage to the top of the list.

Fire

In regard to fire damage inside of properties, it doesn’t matter if your property is commercial or residential. Hotels, offices, factories, and homes are covered in the State of Colorado.

Although most fire damage is visible, there are times when it might not be. If you’ve experienced a fire in your home, it’s often wise to call on experts to ensure there are no hidden dangers.

Fires can happen as a result of anything from electrical shortages and cooking to unextinguished cigarette butts and candles. You never know when a fire may start.

Following the fire, make sure you contact your insurance company for any documents that might help your claim. 

Wildfires

Despite California being a brutal haven for wildfires, Colorado is the third most wildfire-prone state. 2.9 million of Colorado’s citizens are also living in at-risk areas.

Following the Black Forest Fire in 2013, more than 4,000 residents filed property damage claims. This came to a total of more than $450 million.

Wildfires are no laughing matter, and while there are less than there were in 2002, they are increasing.

Weather

Weather-related property damage can be as simple as shingles on roofs being ripped off. Denver is no stranger to winter storms, which inevitably means hail and strong winds.

Hail insurance claims from Colorado constituted for the second highest amount across the United States. It’s also a problem so widespread that it’s led to roofing scams.  These scammers offer the promise of roof repairs. However, these unlicensed contractors could also damage your home further and you may not be able to claim property damages.

Theft

On every level, theft is traumatizing to those who are victim to it. A theft in the home can cause both psychological harm as well as financial losses as a result of damaged property. Seeking out professional legal assistance in the wake of theft can make all the difference. You may be entitled to file a claim if, for example, if locks were broken or windows were smashed.

Water

Water damage is a rampant form of property damage across the Denver Metro area, especially during the winter season when temperatures drop. This type of property damage can be a result of flooding and leaks from any number of things.

The most commonly seen are leaky pipes, an overflowing toilet, and baths or showers that don’t drain properly. Physical damage can occur in the form of cracks and bulges in your home. Any of these can lead to black mold that can form as a result which if left undetected or unresolved can cause physical bodily harm,

Most water damage is not a result of anything you’ve done, therefore, you’re always entitled to make a claim.

What to do next

As soon as you’ve noticed any form of damage, be it physical or a loss of use, you want to call your trusted attorneys at AGG Law Firm. Homeowners, renter’s, and auto insurance policies can be very tricky to navigate. In order to get the maximum compensation for your damaged property call the experienced property damage attorneys at AGG law firm. We will fight to get you the maximum compensation for your damaged property. Contact us today for a free consultation at 720-487-1050.

rollover accident

Injured in a Rollover Accident? Denver Car Accident Lawyers Can Help

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There are over six million auto accidents in the United States every year. Out of all of these vehicular crashes, rollover accidents are the most deadly. A rollover is defined by any car accident in which a vehicle turns over onto its roof or side. These accidents may be single or multi-vehicle crashes and are caused by a wide range of factors–not just driver error, as is commonly assumed.

If you have been injured in a rollover accident, you may be suffering both physically and financially as a result. Whether it’s a loss of income from the inability to work, crushing medical expenses, a loss of mobility, or chronic pain, you need to understand your rights as a victim and how a qualified rollover accident attorney can help you. 

Causes of rollover accidents

It’s a common misconception that rollover accidents are solely a result of driver error. While driver distraction and other mistakes do cause a percentage of rollovers, there are many other causes for these deadly crashes that even the best drivers couldn’t prevent.

Certain passenger vehicles like SUVs are prone to rollovers due to their body design and weight distribution. Other rollovers are caused by “tripping,” which happens when a tire hits something like loose dirt or gravel, causing the vehicle to “trip” forward or sideways. Many other factors contribute to rollovers, including dangerous road conditions, defective tires or faulty vehicle design. In the Denver and Aurora Colorado areas, many of these factors are in play, thanks to hazardous weather conditions and a greater presence of SUVs on the roadways to handle winter roads. No matter the cause, rollover accidents devastate their victims.

Common injuries caused by rollover accidents

Injuries from rollover accidents are wide-ranging and often catastrophic. Because of the violent nature of these crashes, multiple injuries to the head, neck, upper and lower limbs, abdomen and thorax are often seen after a rollover. The long-term effects of these injuries can impact speech, memory, vision, internal organs, nerves and more, leaving the victim unable to work or complete normal activities.  If you’ve experienced injury from a rollover accident, you might feel that there is no hope of reclaiming your life. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to seek help and start recovering what you’ve lost.

Seek help from a personal injury attorney

The first step in reclaiming a sense of normalcy after an accident is to contact an experienced Denver rollover accident attorney. These professionals know that rollover accidents may be the result of another driver, the city responsible for maintaining roads, or even a vehicle manufacturer. An experienced personal injury attorney will help determine who is really at fault in the accident. They will also file the right claim forms with the right offices to help recover lost money from medical bills, missed work, and the effects of an ongoing injury.

Personal injury lawsuits and proceedings can be very confusing and complex. Coupled with strict statutes of limitations on claims and reporting, victims may not be able to represent themselves in a rollover accident claim. A personal injury lawyer is trained to identify the negligence of other parties and respond quickly while there is still time to pursue legal action and receive compensation.

If you live in the Denver or Aurora, Colorado area and have suffered an injury as the result of a devastating rollover accident– you’ve suffered long enough. Contact our qualified rollover accident attorneys at AGG Law Firm today and regain control of your life.  For a free consultation call (720) 487-1050 today!

brain injury

What You Must Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries

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Brain Injury In Colorado

The reality of a traumatic brain injury – whether something you have been the victim of, or a close friend or relative – can be a terrifying experience. Added to the physical issues that may result from an injury of this kind, there are also the social and legal complications to bear in mind. What are your rights? Do you know who can help you if your brain injury is a result of somebody else’s negligence?

We’re going to talk you through the varying steps of dealing with the aftermath of this kind of brain injury, to give you an idea of the various steps that you might need to take. While it can be a sobering, worrying thing to think about, it’s important to know that there are people on your side, and we can also advise when it might be appropriate to get in touch with a personal injury lawyer in Denver or Aurora, Colorado.

THE REALITY OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN COLORADO

According to research by the CDC, traumatic brain injuries have been on the rise for the past decade. Sometimes referred to as TBI, traumatic brain injuries can manifest themselves in several ways. Often, it’s found that an unjured person may be completely normal, and then suddenly finds themselves dramatically changed.

This has to do with the way in which a brain injury is a specific kind of physical injury, and different than something like a broken arm or damaged muscle. As we still know comparatively little about the way the brain works, it can be difficult to assess the impact of an injury to the head. No two brain injuries will manifest themselves the same way, and symptoms can take a long time to present themselves.

One of the more frightening aspects of an injury to the brain is that the affected person may not always know immediately that they have suffered a traumatic injury.

When it comes to brain injuries in Colorado, the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado has Colorado ranked as 9th when it comes to the number of fatalities in the country due to a TBI. Around 5,000 people are hospitalized every year, and nearly 1,000 people a year die as a result of experiencing a traumatic brain injury in Colorado.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES & SYMPTOMS OF TBI?

When it comes to sustaining a traumatic brain injury, by far the biggest cause is a fall. In fact, around 47% of TBI are as a result of falling and hitting your head. After that, motor vehicle crashes, hitting your head, or assaults are the largest contributors to TBI. As the symptoms can take a while to develop, however, around 13% of people don’t know how they sustained an injury.

A traumatic brain injury is ranked in severity from mild to severe. A mild injury involves a loss of consciousness, confusion, and/or disorientation lasting 30 minutes or less. While described as ‘mild’, the symptoms can include headaches, mood swings, attention issues, loss of memory and clear thinking.

A severe brain injury involves a loss of consciousness longer than 30 minutes, and memory loss after the accident.  It also includes a skull injury that lasts for longer than 24 hours. In these cases, it’s often found that survivors have limited physical function, issues with talking, thinking, or handling their emotions. The impact this has on a survivor, as well as their family, is huge and long lasting.

WHO CAN HELP YOU IF YOU SUFFER FROM A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY IN DENVER?

The CDC has estimated that annually, around $60 billion is spent in costs to those suffering from TBI. This can include direct medical costs, as well as ongoing care costs. If an injury is sustained due to an accident, or negligence on the part of somebody else, compensation can be sought. A survivor may be eligible to receive compensation for:

  • Medical care expenses
  • past and future lost earnings
  • Cost of future medical care
  • Emotional pain and suffering

Anyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Denver or Aurora, Colorado should also be aware that the state has placed financial limits on the amount of damages a survivor can be entitled to. It’s therefore vital to get in touch with a Brain and Head Injury Lawyer in Denver, as there are exceptions, including for those who have suffered permanent physical disability. If in doubt, seek expert professional help, to ensure that you have the most up to date information at this vital time. Don’t wait, contact Alhasoon, Glidden & Glidden Law Firm today for a no cost, no obligation consultation at 720-487-1050.

If You Have Been Injured in an Accident by an 18-Wheeler, a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

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The number of vehicular crashes each year involving 18-wheeler trucks is on the rise. These enormous semi-trucks can weigh up to 40 tons. Compare that to the average passenger vehicle, which weighs just over two tons, and it’s easy to see why truck accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic personal injury.

There are many possible contributing factors to an 18-wheeler accident, including driver error or fatigue, a vehicle defect, safety violations, or improperly secured cargo. A tractor-trailer injury attorney can help determine the contributing factors and who is at-fault in an accident.

If you are in the Denver and Aurora, Colorado areas and have been injured in an 18-wheeler accident, you need to understand your rights. Your first course of action should be to contact a truck accident attorney in Denver that can help you sort through the complexity of a commercial trucking accident claim to be compensated for the suffering you’ve experienced.

How is a semi-truck accident different than a car accident?

You may be surprised to learn that legal proceedings and claims for semi-truck accidents are much different than for car accidents. Commercial trucking is a heavily-regulated industry and under strict federal and state laws–often hundreds more laws than for a typical passenger vehicle. These laws include truck maintenance, special driver licensing and qualifications, logbooks, and driver fatigue regulations. For this reason, commercial truck accidents are not only much more complex than a passenger vehicle accident, but there is much higher potential for greater compensation as the result of an accident with injury.

Know what’s at stake

With the risk of greater property damage and personal injury comes a proportionate amount of compensation in the case of negligence on the part of the trucking company. Because of the complex regulations in the trucking industry, companies must carry high-value insurance policies to cover medical bills and accident claims. For this reason, trucking companies often hire insurance adjusters who are highly skilled at avoiding liability and reducing the amount of insurance money paid out to victims of an accident. A common practice of these companies is to offer what appears to be a large sum of money at the outset of a claim in hopes that the victim accepts and doesn’t pursue legal action.

Accident victims all over the Colorado area have realized too late that they accepted far less than they needed to cover lost wages and the repercussions of long-term injury. A commercial trucking accident attorney in Denver knows how to deflect the tactics used by insurance companies to avoid minimal payouts to victims.

Consult an experienced semi-truck accident attorney

Don’t be a victim twice. The attorneys at AGG law firm don’t let the insurance companies minimize your injuries to maximize their profits. At AGG law firm we fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies will protect the interest of their clients–not the accident victim. A qualified Denver truck accident attorney will fight to secure the compensation you deserve to regain your quality of life. They know the tactics used by insurance adjusters and how overly-complex trucking insurance policies work. They are also familiar with the hundreds of regulations that truck drivers and trucking companies must follow to avoid liability and can recognize when a company is at-fault because of their negligence or the negligence of their driver.

In many cases, there are multiple lines of insurance coverage for each trucking company, further complicating claims and legal proceedings and protecting the assets of the trucking company. A truck accident attorney will expertly file the appropriate paperwork with each line of insurance, successfully avoiding potential loopholes and delays in payment.

Your attorney will carefully check driving records, training documentation, inspection documents, driver certifications, and other regulatory sources for potential negligence to support your case. In the midst of the injury and chaos following an accident, you shouldn’t be responsible for tracking down documents from multiple agencies. An experienced personal injury lawyer will take care of the tedious administrative work of your case so that you can focus on your recovery.

Don’t delay in contacting the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden — there is a strict statute of limitations for filing claims and pursuing legal action. If you miss the window of opportunity, you will not get a second chance. Contact our truck accident attorneys today at (720) 487-1050 for the help you deserve.

Auto Accident

Who Will Fix My Car After My Accident?

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You were just in an accident, your prized possession is damaged, you’re in pain and don’t know what to do next. Damage to your vehicle is usually addressed very shortly after a collision. The insurance company has a direct interest in resolving the property damage because they are responsible for repairing the vehicle or paying the fair market value as soon as possible to minimize rental car charges and storage fees. In most cases, the issue of property damage and payment for repairs or replacement value is determined early on in the case and after liability has been accepted by the at-fault parties insurance company.

Repair or Total Loss?

If your vehicle is damaged in a motor vehicle collision, one of the biggest questions is, will my vehicle be repaired or be deemed a total loss? The answer to this question turns on the fair market value of the vehicle at the time the loss occurred. If the repairs are too costly, then you vehicle will be deemed a total loss, commonly referred to as a totaled. If this is the case the next question is will you receive any money and how much?

Repair Estimate

The starting point is obtaining an estimate for your vehicle, the estimate will be the basis to repair the damaged vehicle or deem the vehicle a total loss. The estimate for repairs will then be compared to the replacement value of the vehicle. The insurance company will determine if it’s more cost effective to repair the vehicle or deem the vehicle a total loss. If the vehicle has special equipment, documentation must be provided to prove the increase in value because of the special equipment. Establishing the value of the vehicle is time sensitive and should be done all at once.

Replacement Value of the Vehicle

The replacement value of the vehicle is determined by looking for comparable vehicles that have been sold in the subject area within a specific time frame. A common misconception is to use the “Kelly Blue Book” but insurance companies use a more complex formula to make a determination of what the value of the vehicle is at the time of the loss. At AGG Law Firm, we maximize what you can recover for the damage to your property as a result of a tortfeasors negligence.

Totaled Vehicle

If your vehicle has been totaled and you own the vehicle (have possession of the title) then your accident attorney will receive a check for the fair market value of your totaled vehicle. If you don’t own the vehicle and have a loan or a lien holder, the check will be paid to the lender to pay for any remaining loans you may have on the vehicle. In order to insure you are getting the most compensation for your property damage contact our attorneys in Denver.

Whose Insurance Will Pay?

Determining who will pay is all based on who was at-fault for the motor vehicle collision. If the person who caused the collision was at-fault, his or her insurance company must pay for your damages.

If you still need help or are unsure of what to do next, our attorneys in Denver, CO are standing by to help you get the information you need so you can get back to your routine. Contact the attorneys of Alhasoon, Glidden and Glidden to get more information about how we can help if you have been in an auto accident. Schedule a consultation with us at (720) 487-1050 today!